The current structure that houses ashes used on roads during the winter (right) will be replaced with a new “pole barn” building in the near future. (KP File Photo)
After several years of planning, Manor Township supervisors approved the construction of a pole barn that will house anti-skid materials for winter road maintenance.
Senate Engineering prepared bid specifications for a 50-feet by 80-feet three-sided building to be erected next to the township’s maintenance shed.
Two companies bid the construction. Cleary Building Corporation from Butler bid $106,127 while Blair Construction made a bid of $76,200. Supervisor Bob Southworth made the motion to approve Blair Construction and it was seconded by Supervisor Tag Hecker. Supervisor Don Palmer joined in the unanimous decision.
When asked about how the purchase would impact the budget, Palmer said that the supervisors have been allocating money for the past three years in the budget in preparation of the final bid.
There was no time table assigned to the installation, although Southworth said he hopes the contractor will be able to install it as soon as possible.
Southworth said the new building will have a loading dock so workers can see the material loading into the truck without having to physically climb onto the truck to check it.
“The ground is sloped so we will level the corner and be able to back the truck into it,” Southworth described. “There will be a light above it so we can see into the bed of the truck. It will avoid workers from having to climb on top of the truck. It’s too dangerous anymore to do that.”
Southworth said there is approximately 100-ton of ash in the current building. He said it will be moved to a section of the new building once construction is complete. However, he said the Department of Environmental Protection is making it difficult for townships to continue using ash.
“They are going to make us go to anti-skid. Every township uses ash because it is cheap and not corrosive. But DEP believes it is contaminating water supplies. Anti-skid material must be kept inside. If it becomes wet, it becomes a solid block.”
Southworth said for now they will mix ash with anti-skid as long as possible.
The new building will have a concrete floor. Senate Engineering designed appropriate collecting pools for water runoff.